St. Martin lies in the Innviertel (Innkreis) region, situated on the west slope of the Troßkolm forest in the Antiesen valley.

The municipal area comprises the cadastral communities of Diesseits and Jenseits (literally "On This Side" and "Beyond"), referring to the Antiesen River.

The Sankt Martin parish church was first mentioned in a 1084 deed, when the surrounding estates were held by the Bavarian Bishops of Passau.

With the whole Innviertel region Sankt Martin belonged to the Duchy of Bavaria (Electorate from 1623) until it was ceded to the Archduchy of Austria according to the 1779 Treaty of Teschen.

In World War II Oberst Alois Podhajsky, director of the Spanish Riding School in Vienna, had most of the Lipizzan stallions evacuated to St. Martin.